My Story
Hi, I’m Julie Baumgartner, an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant and the heart behind Best Hope Lactation.
I work with new and growing families during one of the most vulnerable seasons of life. Feeding challenges, exhaustion, uncertainty, and emotional overwhelm are incredibly common in those early weeks, and my goal is to help you feel supported, informed, and confident every step of the way.
I know that feeding journeys rarely look exactly the way parents imagined. Every baby is different, every family is different, and every experience deserves individualized support rather than one-size-fits-all advice.
That’s why I take time to understand your goals, your baby, and your unique situation so we can create a realistic plan that works for your life, not just a textbook.
Experience & Credentials
More Than 30 Years Supporting Families with Compassionate Care
Throughout my healthcare career, I have had the privilege of working alongside physicians, healthcare professionals, patients, and families through education, guidance, and trusted care. Today, I bring that experience to helping mothers and babies navigate pregnancy, newborn care, breastfeeding, feeding transitions, and postpartum adjustments—offering reassurance and guidance during one of life’s most meaningful transitions.
As an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), I provide evidence-based support while honoring that each family’s needs, values, and goals are unique. Earning and maintaining the IBCLC credential requires rigorous education, extensive clinical experience, and at least 500 hours of supervised clinical internship, ensuring families receive knowledgeable, compassionate, and up-to-date support.
For those of us who hold it, the IBCLC credential is worn with pride - it represents more than a designation. It is a lifelong commitment to learning, to supporting families, and to promoting the importance of human milk as a foundation for lifelong health.
My Approach
Support Centered Around You
My approach is gentle, practical, and centered around real life.
You won’t receive generic advice or pressure to follow one path. Instead, you’ll receive:
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Compassionate support without judgment
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Clear next steps
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Personalized feeding plans
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Evidence-based guidance
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Encouragement along the way
I believe parents deserve care too — not just babies.
Areas of Support
✓ Breastfeeding support
✓ Newborn feeding support
✓ Breast pump guidance and fitting
✓ Return-to-work pumping plans
✓ Bottle refusal support
✓ Breast health concerns
✓ Feeding transitions
✓ Prenatal education
✓ In-home, office, and virtual lactation consultations